Wayne:
I got a bit of insight from my associate in the UK:
"That mention of 'St. James's' intrigued me the more I thought about it. St. James is an 'upscale' London parish/district but as we know guns are usually engraved with a numbered street address. Webley did have a London address in late 19th century, but it was 78, Shaftesbury Avenue, in central theatre-land, Soho parish, not St James's. I've found no advertisements for Webley with a St James's street address , yet.
The proof marks are indeed Birmingham proofs but as Webley production was based in Birmingham those marks would not arouse suspicion. However the attached cutting indicates that a lot of cheaply made Brummie guns were flooding the States in the early 1880's. The British writer had spent a lot of time in the States and was a rifle expert. I know the inscription he quotes is very slightly different as he says there is the word 'street' on the rib but I think caution would be very wise on this gun particularly as regards safety.
The cutting is dated 23rd April 1881, from 'The Field'."
|
Threaded Mode